Flushing-valve-operating device.



PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

VV.H.LUDEW1G; FLUSEING VALVE OPERATING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED DEO.20, 1906.

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PATENTED MAY 14, 1907.

. LUDBWIG.

ELUSEING VALVE OPERATING DEVICE,

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Allonffy$` APPLICATION FILED Dull-10.20, 1906.

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PLUSHING VALVE OPERTING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED DB0 20,1906

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ENTTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. LUDEWIG, OF ROOK ISLAND, ILLINOIS.`

FLUSHING-VALVE-OPERATING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14, 1907.

Application filed December 20, 1906. Serial No. 348,794.

Valve-Operating Devices; and I hereby de-` clare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which form part of thisspecification.

This invention is an improvement in water-closets, and particularlyrelates to the flushingvvalve operating device for waterclosets and thelike, and in the connections between the closet bowl and the tank. Itsobjects are to produce a construction wherein the flushing-tank can belocated and supported if desired directly upon the bowl; and to provideautomatically operating seat controlled mechanism for opening theflushingvalve when the seat is released, said devices being set bypressure upon the. seat and operated automatically by a spring when theseat is released.

Further objects are to make the parts strong, compact and durable, andto render the operative parts easilydetachable and replaceable in caserepairs `are necessary.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following descriptionand the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, and thefeatures and parts and combinations of parts for which protection isdesired are set forth in the claims following the specification. y

In the drawings-Figure 1 shows a front view of the tank partly brokenaway, and sectional view of bowl with seat removed. Fig. 2 is anenlarged vertical sectional view through the iushing-valve on line 2 2,Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a partplan view and part horizontal sectional, view of the bowl and partstherein. y Fig. 5 is a detail section showing the iush-v'alve operatingdevices in position assumed after flush-valve is opened, and just beforethe catch disengages the dog. Figs. 6, 6a and 7 are detail perspectiveviews of the valve-operating lever and its fastening devices. Fig. 8 isa perspective view of the lever engaging roller and its supportingcasting. Figs.. 9 and 9a are detail pers ective views of the valveoperating dog an( catch. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the housing.for the valve operating devices.

The closet bowl 1 is preferably oval in form, and has a rearwardextension la adapted to support the flushing-tank T, as hereinafterexplained. In this extension 1a is formed a' cavity lb, adapted to.contain a metal casing 2, hereinafter referred to, and from the cavity1b extend inwardly three ducts, a central horizontal passage 1C, and twohorizontal side passages or ducts 1d, 1d, the latter being adapted toconduct water usual distributing passages, not shown, in and around theupper edge of the bowl. The passage 1C is occupied by a tube 2a,connecte'd with the metal casing 2 for a purpose hereinafter explained.

The casing 2 may be rectangular or of other desired forni, large enoughto contain the hush-valve operating devices, and is preferably providedat bottom with side flanges cavity 1b, so as to anchor the casing firmlyin cavity lb, and the casing is provided at top with a horizontal flange2C which is adapted to rest upon the top of extension 1a. After thecasing is in place it may be sealed in the cavity by filling up the openend of the latter with cement, as indicated at 1e or in other suitablemanner.

The tube 2aL extends from the forward sidel of the casing through thepassage 1C, and may be sealed therein by any suitable cement or packing;while the front wall of the casing has openings 2d, which communicatewith the inner ends of the water ducts 1d, ld, as shown.

On the top of the casing and projecting above the same sufficiently toenter the bottom of the iushing-tank T, is a circular flange 2e whichfits tightly in an opening in the bottom t of the fiushing tank which isset over the casing 2 and upon the extension 1a of the bowl as shown.

T elescoped into the circular flange 2e is a cylinder 3, having a flaredseat 3a on its u per end for the accommodation of the flus ing-valve V,and this cylinder is provided with anexternal iiange 3C adapted to restupon the 'top surface of the bottom t of the tank. When the cylinder-isfastened to the casing, water-tight joints can be formed between thebottom of the tank and the iange 2C on the casing and iiange 3c on thecylinder 3, suitable washers 2X, 3X being interposed between said iangesand the bottom of the tank as indicated in the drawings. The cylinder 3may be detachably secured to the from the Hush-tank to the bowl,ashereinaf ter explained, and may connect with the A' 2b adapted toengage recesses in the sides of j IOO IIO

casing 2 in any desired manner, l now prefer to form the cylinder withupper and lower transverse bridge pieces 3d, Se, connected by a centraltube 3f, and through these bridge pieces are passed. bolts 3g whichscrew into lugs 2g on the inside of the casing as shown, and thus firmlysecure the cylinder 3 and flushing-valve seat 3FL to the casing, andalso fasten the tank onto the bowl.

The tube 3f forms a guide for the stem o of the flushing-valve V whichis guided in its rising and falling movements by said stem. When thevalve is closed the stem i) depends into the casing (asindicated inFigs. 2 and 3), and when it enters the casing it contacts with a dog 4pivoted in the casing, or rather on the lower end of cylinder 3, seeFigs. 3 and 5. This dog carries a roller 4tL in position 'to engage thelower end of the valve-rod e, and form a rolling contact between thestem and. dog. The dog has a normally depending tooth 4b which when thedog is raised, stands opposite the inner end of the tube 2a g and ateach side ofthe tooth 4b are downwardly and rearwardly curved 'lingers4" slightly longer than the tooth and for a purposehereinafterexplained. A spring 4d is arranged to hold the dog upwardly when thevalve V is raised.

y Within the casing below the dog is a catch 5 which is provided with atooth 5b adapted to engage tooth 4b f the dog when the catch is pushedinward and the dog is in its lowermost position (Fig. 3). The catch isalso provided at each side of its tooth 5b with upwardly curved .fingers5C adapted to co-act with fingers 4C as hereinafter explained. The catch5 is pivoted at its forward end to the inner end of a rod 6 which liesin tube 2, and a spring 5d is arranged to normally press the catchupwardly into engaging position.

The inner end of rod 6 is enlarged as at 6at to fit in the tube neatlyand hold the rod axially in position in the tube, while the outer end ofthe rod is reduced in diameter as at 6b and is guided in the bore of asleeve nut 2m tapped into the inner end of tube 2, and provided withapertures 2 so that any water entering the tube can readily escapetherefrom. By removing nut 2m the rod. 6 can be easily inserted in andremoved from the tube 2a. The rod. 6 moreover is provided intermediateits ends with a slot 6c crossed by a pin 61 carrying a roller 6e whichis engaged by the lower yoked. end of a lever 7 which is attached to thelower forward side of the tank, or tank bottom plate, and dependsthrough a slot 1 in the bowl extension and a slot 20 in the upper sideof tube 2a, and engages rod 6, as described. Obviously by swinging lever7 the rod 6 will be reciprocated, and the catch 5 moved into or out ofengagement with the dog 4. The rod 6 can be moved and held in outermostposition by a spring 6p interposed between the shoulder 2r at the innerend of tube 2a, and a collar 6r on the rodv in rear of level` 7. Theforward movement of the rod and lever under the action of spring 61)being regulable, if desired, by a nut 6s threaded on part 6h, andengaging the sleeve nut 2m.

The lever 7 is pivoted at its upper end by a, pin 7a to a bracketcasting 7'), which in turn is detachably fastened in a casting 7`attached to the front edge of the bottom plate t of the tank as shown.The casting 7 has laterally extending portions 7I which alford a meansfor securely attaching it by screws to the tank bottom plate; and italso has a central rearwardly extending portion 7" which is fitted intoa recess in the bottom plate t and is provided on its rear end with adepending perforated lug 7" through which passes a bolt 7g the forwardend of which has a head 7h impinging against a roller 7i on the lever 7,and a stout helical spring 7 is interposed between lng Tf and the head7h ol the bolt, and forcibly swings lever 7 outA ward, and normallyholds said lever 7, and with it rod 6, in outermost position, as shownin full lines in Fig. Si. '.lhe extent of outward. movement of the levercan be regulated by an adjusting nut 7k en the threaded rear end of bolt7g. .in some cases one of the springs 7j or 6D could be omitted.

The closet seat S is hinged le the bottoni plate or support of the tankabove lever 7 as shown in Figs. l and 3. The hinge lugs .v arepreferably made with unusually high pintles so as to cause the rear edgeof the seat to swing .more readily and farther than ordi-- naryeye-hinges would do.

To the rear lower edge of the seat is attached a casting S, (Figs. 3 and8) carrying a roller 8 which normally inu'iinges against the forwardside and upper part of lever 7 so that when the seat is unoccupied itwill be swung upward, as indicated in Fig. S, by the action of spring7i, but when the seat is depressed the spring is tensiened and lever 7,rod 6 and catch 5 are moved back to the position indicated in dottedlines in Fig. ii.

The flush-valve V may be of any desired construction as shown it has a.head to lit the seat, and is provided with a tubular overflow member V',and above the valve proper is a flange e which when the valve is raisedis engaged by a dog i) pivoted in the tank, and said dog upholds thevalve until the water has escaped and the dog is released by .mechanismoperated by the descent of the float F, controlling the inlet valve.lhis mechanism is not claimed herein and further explanation thereof isunnecessary, it is described and shown in my application Serial No.319,534, filed May 3l, i906.

In addition to supporting the tank upon the extension 1"L by fasteningit to the casing 2 as described, the tank may bx :ulditionally YOO TIE

secured in position if desired by any ordinary means, not shown. lnorder to prevent its lIO rocking upon the casing and extension la, Iprovide the extension with leveled studs 1h, engaging sockets in thebottom plate t of the tank .so that when the cylinder is secured inposition, as shown in Fig. 3, the tank will be securely held in placeordinarily additional supports will be unnecessary.

Operation. Normally the flushing-valve V is closed, and the closet-seatraised, as shown in full lines in Fig. 3. In this position the stem vengages roller 4";l and depresses dog 4 into the position shown in Fig.3. When the seat S is depressed it will, through casting 8, force lever7 rearward, tensioning spring 7 j and moving rod 6 and catch 5rearwardly;- catch 5 riding under dog 4 until tooth 5b springs up behindtooth 4b, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3. Then when the seat isreleased spring 7 J' throws the seat up into the position shown indotted lines Fig. 3, and pulls rod 6 and catch 5 forward, and as catch 5is then engaged with dog 4 it swings the dog forwardly, as indicated inFig. 5, causing roller 4a' to raise stem o and thus unseat and raisevalve V, which is upheld by dog 9, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig.l which shows the dog swung fully upward, and in the position assumedthe moment before catch 5 has completed its outward stroke, at which4moment i'ingers 4? engage ngers 5C and as the catch completes itsstroke, the fingers cause the teeth to disengage and the dog is free tobe swung back to the positionshown in full lines Fig. 3, when the valveV is released. The valve is released by the operation of theiioat-controlled mechanism as described in my aforesaid application; orby any other suitableconnection with the inlet-valve controllingmechanism, so that after the tank has emptied itself the Hush-valve willbe closed. The seat can be raised when closet is used as a urinal, andbowl subsequently flushed by momentarily depressing and then releasingthe seat. I

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters i Patent is:

1. In combination with a bowl, a flushing tank, a flushing-valve in saidtank having a depending stem, a dogibelow the tank adapted to be shiftedby the stem when the valve is closed, a reciprocatory catch adapted toengage the dog, and means for reciprocating the catch to cause it tomove the dog'and open the valve.

2. In combination with a bowl, a flushing- `tank supported thereon, aflushing valve in said tank having a depending stem, a swinging dogbelow the tank adapted to be depressed by the stem when the valve isclosed, a catch adapted to engage the dog, means for reciprocating thecatch, a spring for operating said means in one direction, and means formoving it in opposition to the spring.

3. In combination, a flushing tank, `a

flushing valve, and a hinged seat with a' Swingin dog below the valveadaptedto be moved y the closingk of the valve, a reciprocatory catchadapted to engage the dog and cause it to open the valve when the catchis moved in one direction, a sprin@r Jfor causing the valve-openingmovement ci3 the catch and means actuated by the seat for moving thecatch in opposition to the spring.

4. The combination of a bowl, a hingedA a casing beneath the tank, aswinging dog 1n said casing, a catch slidably mounted in said casing andadapted to engage the dog, means actuated in one direction by a springfor reciprocating said catch, and a iushing valve having a dependingstem adapted to engage and depress the dog when the valve is closed.

6. The combination of a liushing tank, a casing beneath the tank, aswinging dog in said casing, a tube connected with said casing, a rodslidably mounted in said tube, a catch pivoted to the inner end of saidrod adapted to engage the dog, means for reciprocating said rod, and aiiushing valve having a depending stem adapted to engage and depress thedog when the valve is closed.

' 7. In combination with a valve having a stem, a pivoted dog adapted toengage the stem and provided with a tooth and curved fingers a catchhaving a tooth to engage the tooth of the dog and curved lingers adaptedto engage the lingers of thedog, and means for reciprocating said catch.

S In combination, a flushing tank and an outlet valve having a dependingstem, with a dog pivoted below the valve and having a roller adapted toengage the stem, and a tooth and curved iingers, with a catch having atooth and curved ngers respectively adapted to engage the tooth andlingers of the dog, and means for reciprocating said catch.

9. In combination with a iiushing tank, an outlet valve having adepending stem, and a pivoted dog adapted to be moved by the stem andhaving a tooth and curved lingers;

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with a catch having a tooth to engage the dog and curved fingers adaptedto engage the lingers of the dog, a reciprocatory rod engaging thecatch, a swinging lever engaging said rod, a spring for moving the leverin one direction, and means for moving the lever in the oppositedirection.

' l0. The combination of a iushing tank, an

outlet valve having a depending stem, a dog pivoted below the valve andadapted to engage the stem, with a catch adapted to engage the dog, areciprocatoryT rod engaging the catch, a swinging lever engaging saidrod, a spring for moving the lever in one direction, and a hinged seatand connections for moving the lever in the opposite direction.

l1. In combination, a bowl having a rearward extension and a recess andforwardly extending passages in the upper end. ot said extension, acasing secured in said recess, a tlushing tank mounted over said casingon said extension, an outlet in the tank connuunicating with the casing,a tlushing valve for closing said outlet, means in the casing foropening the valve, and a hinged seat and connections 'for controllingsaid means.

12. In combination, a bowl having a rearward extension provided with arecess in its upper end, a casing secured in said recess, a flushingtank mounted over said casing on said eXtension, an outlet in the tankcommunicating with the casing, a valve Vfor closing said outlet having astem depending into the casing, a dog pivoted in the casing adapted tobe depressed by said stem, a catch adapted to engage the dog, and meansVlor reciprocate ing said catch.

13. The combination of a bowl having a rearward extension, a recess inthe upper end of said extension, a casing secured in said recess, aflushing tank mounted over said casing on said extension, an outlet inthe tank communicating with the casing, andv a (lushing valve forclosing said. outlet having a. stem depending into the casing g with adog pivoted in the casing adapted to be engaged by said stem, and meansfor moving said dog, a spring for operating said means in one direction,and a hinged seat and connections for operating said means in theopposite direction.

14. In combination, a bowl having a rearward extension, a recess in theupper end of said extension, a casing secured in said recess, a flushingtank mounted over said casing on said extension, an out-let in the tankcommunicating with the casing, a valve 'for closing said outlet having astern depending into the casing, a dog pivoted in the casing adapted tobe depressed by said stem, a catch adapted to engage the dog, areciprocatory rod. connected to said catch, a pivoted lever engagingsaid rod, a spring for moving the lever in one direction, and a hingedseat and connections for moving the-lever in the opposite direction.

l5. The combination of a bowl, a casing secured to the bowl, a flushingtank over the casing, a cylinder passing through the bottom of the tankand into the casing and provided with a ushing valve seat on its upperend, and means for fastening the cylinder to l the casing; with atlushing valve adapted to lit said seat, means in said casing loropening the l'lushing valve, a hinge seat and connections for settingthe valve opening means, and a spring Afor actuating the valve openingmeans when the seat released.

16. The combination of a bowl having a rearward extension, a casingsecured in said extension, 'lushing tank supported on the extension overthe Vzsing, a c vlinder passing through the bottom ol" thc tank and intothe casing provided with a llushingivalve s `at on its upper end, n mnslor fastening the cvlmder to the casing, a llushing valve adapted to itsaid seat and having a stem depending into the casing, means in saidcasing l'or opening the flushing valve, a hinge seat and connections forsetting the valve opening means, and a spring lio actuating the valveopening means when the seat is released.

17. .lhe combination o'l,l a bowl having z` rearward extension providedwith a cavitv in its upper portion, a casing secured in the eavity, avflushing tank secured over said casing, a c vlinder passed through thebottom ot the tank into the casing, and means lor t'astening thecylinder to the (.zasing; with a lushing 'valve above the cylinderhaving a stem de pending into the asing, a swinging dog pivoted inthecasing adapted to he depressed bv the stem when the valve closes, arecipro 'atory catch in the iasing adapted to engage the dog and causeit to open the valve when moved in one direction, a reciprocating rodconnected to said catch, a springlor moving said rod in one direction, ahinged seat and connections l'or moving the rod in the oppositedirection, when the seat is depressed.

18. The combination ol'Y a bowl having a rearward extension providedwith a cavitv and passages in its upper portion, a casing litted in thecavity, a. tlushing tank secured over said asing, a cylinder passedthrough the bottom of the tank into the casing and means lier fasteningthe cylinder to the casing; with a llushing valve on the outer endoiiisaid cylinder having a stem depending into the casing, a swingingdog in the casing adapted to be depressed blv the stem when the valvecloses, a recipro atorv catch in the casing adapted t'o engage the dog,a reciproeating rod pivotallv connected to said catch, a swinging leverengaging said rod, a spring for moving said lever in one direction, ahinged seat and devices on said seat tor moving the lever in theopposite direction when the seat is depressed.

In testimony that l claim the foregoing as my own, I alli.\Y in vsignature in presence oll two witnesses.

l'lilililhl ll. lillDlGWltl.

Iitnessesz (Lim E. Snimins, Bassin G. lVnnnA.

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